Kennerley Children's Homes Records

Kennerley Children’s Homes Records date from 1869. The records include nominal rolls, photographs, annual reports, and personal files. However, this is a small remnant of the original collection. Kennerley Boys’ Home (now Kennerley Children’s Home) sold their site in Lansdowne Crescent in 1969. About that time, most of the records were destroyed by a fire in a South Hobart shed.

Access Conditions

Care leavers (and their families) wanting to find information or access personal files can contact Kennerley Children’s Home. Kennerley’s 2012 policy statement explains the organisation’s policy around access to confidential information. It states that ‘clients’ of Kennerley Children’s Homes, including former residents, have the right to access their records and advise the organisation of any inaccuracies. It also sets out the procedures for family members of former residents to access records. You can download the policy as a pdf here: Kennerley Access to Confidential Information, Policy Statement.

Records

The collection includes:

Registry Records (1869-2004 with gaps)

• Kennerley Admission Book, 1869-1898. Entries include information such as: Name, Date of Birth, Date of Admission, Date of Discharge.
• Kennerley Admission Book, 1916-1964. Entries include information such as: Name, Date of Birth, District, Name and District of Relatives, Level of Education, Date of Discharge and Remarks, such as where the child went to next.
• Kennerley Admission Book, 1957-2004. Labelled ‘Kennerley Boys’ Home Nominal Roll (October 1958 to 2004). Records are arranged alphabetically by surname. Entries include information such as: Surname, First Names, Date of Birth, Date of Admission, Date of Discharge. The Remarks includes other information, such as where the child went to next.
• Kennerley Admission Book, 1978-2004. Records are arranged alphabetically by surname. Entries include information such as: Name, Date of Birth, Date of Admission, Date of Discharge.

Individual case files (1869-2004)

A-Z records of individual case files with attached information and photos if available.

Photographed Admission Books (1869-2004)

• Subscribers Meeting Records (1869-1883)
• Admission Book (1869-1895)
• Minutes Book (1903-1910)
• Receipt Book (1906)
• Monthly Reports (1911-1923)
• Admission Book (1916-1964)
• Minutes Book (1925)
• Accounts Ledger (1926)
• Receipt & Expenditure Book (1939-1947)
• Receipt & Expenditure Book (1948-1953)
• Admission Book (1957-2004

Annual Reports (1994 – )

From 1994 to 2002, the annual reports are only auditor’s reports. Since 2002 annual reports have contained other information.

Kennerley Honour Roll (1869-c.2004)

These records include a list of Chairmen of the Board of Management (1869-2000), a list of Secretaries to the Board of Management (1869-2000), and a list of Superintendents/Managers (1869-c.2004)

Kennerley Paperwork (1869-1969)

These records include house plans, various letters, information on Boys’ Home Lansdowne Crescent, Concert program, Members’ records, standards and duties of carers.

Newspaper articles (1910-1984)

Various newspaper articles and photos.

Various Photos and Articles (1970-2003)

• Named Photos in individual Case files
• Neil Hutchinson photography
• Stan Draper Photography
• Tasmania Business Reporter Articles
• The Mercury Articles
• Un-named Photos